How to get into Baulkham Hills High School: entry, places and the selective test

Quick answer: Baulkham Hills High School is a fully selective, co-educational government high school in Sydney's Hills District. Most students enter in Year 7 through the NSW Department of Education's Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6. Families apply in Year 5, and the school has 180 Year 7 places (90 boys, 90 girls). A small number of places in Years 8 to 11 are filled through a separate application and an EduTest exam run by the school.

Baulkham Hills High School at a glance

Baulkham Hills is one of the most sought-after selective schools in NSW. It also includes a support unit for students with disability, which has a separate enrolment process.

Year 7 entry: how it works

Year 7 places are decided by the Department of Education's Selective Education Team, not by the school. The process is the same for every NSW selective high school.

1. Apply in Year 5. Applications are made online through the Department.
2. Choose up to three selective schools, in order of preference. You don't have to live near Baulkham Hills to apply.
3. Sit the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 6, usually in May.
4. Receive an outcome in Term 3 of Year 6. Offers are made in order of results and school preferences.

Who can apply

Students must live in NSW at the start of the school year and be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa.

Equity places

Up to 20% of places can be offered under the Department's equity placement model, for students from low socio-educational backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from rural and remote areas, and students with disability.

Key dates

For Year 7 entry in 2027 (current Year 6):

For Year 7 entry in 2028 (current Year 5): official dates are released by the Department. Based on recent years, expect applications to open in early November 2026 and close in February 2027, with the test in May 2027. If your child is in Year 5 now, this is the cycle to watch.

The Selective High School Placement Test

The test is computer-based and has four sections:

The whole test takes about two and a half hours. For a full breakdown of each section and how it's marked, see the NSW selective schools test explained. For the thinking skills section, which most students haven't seen before, see thinking skills question types.

What score do you need for Baulkham Hills?

There's no fixed pass mark. Places are offered in order of merit to the highest-scoring applicants who listed the school, until places are filled, so the cut-off depends on that year's applicants.

Entry scores haven't been officially published since 2021. Under the previous test format, Baulkham Hills sat consistently near the top of the state:

These scores came from the previous test and scoring system, so they can't be compared directly with results today. They do show that Baulkham Hills has long been one of the hardest NSW selective schools to get into, alongside James Ruse, North Sydney Boys and Girls, and Sydney Boys and Girls.

If your child narrowly misses out, they may be placed on a reserve list. See selective reserve lists and results explained.

Years 8 to 11 entry

A very small number of places become available in Years 8 to 11 each year. This pathway is run by the school, not the Department.

For entry in 2027:

The exam is run by EduTest, with five 30-minute sections: verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics and written expression. Calculators aren't allowed. Applications are lodged on paper at the school's administration office. The school doesn't take Year 12 enrolments.

The Years 8 to 11 exam is a different test from the Year 7 placement test. If this is your pathway, see EduTest vs ACER and our EduTest practice tests.

How to prepare for Year 7 entry

Year 4 and early Year 5

• Read widely, including poetry and non-fiction, and talk about what writers are suggesting.
• Build number fluency and problem-solving habits.
• Introduce thinking skills questions gently, as puzzles rather than tests.

Late Year 5 (around application time)

• Sit a first full, timed practice test to find strengths and gaps.
• Start regular timed writing, with feedback on one thing at a time.

Year 6, February to May

• Focus practice on the weakest section.
• Sit two or three full mock tests under real conditions, a few weeks apart.
• In the final fortnight, keep practice light and focus on familiarity and rest.

NSW Selective practice tests

Our NSW Selective mock tests follow the current four-section format: reading, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and writing. Every multiple-choice question has a worked explanation, results are broken down by skill, and writing is marked by a human teacher.

• NSW Selective practice tests
• Free NSW Selective sample questions

These are independent practice materials, not official test papers, and they don't predict placement outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Baulkham Hills High School fully selective?

Yes. Baulkham Hills is a fully selective, co-educational government high school. All Year 7 students enter through the Selective High School Placement Test.

How many students does Baulkham Hills take in Year 7?

180 places: 90 for boys and 90 for girls.

What is the Baulkham Hills entry score?

There's no fixed score. Places go to the highest-ranked applicants who listed the school. Under the previous test, the minimum entry score was between 217 and 234 out of 300 from 2016 to 2021, among the highest in NSW.

Do you have to live near Baulkham Hills to apply?

No. Selective schools don't have catchment areas. You can list up to three selective schools anywhere in NSW, as long as you live in NSW and meet the residency requirements.

Can you get into Baulkham Hills after Year 7?

Yes, but places are very limited. Years 8 to 11 entry is through a separate school-run application and an EduTest exam, usually held in August for the following year.

Does Baulkham Hills have open days?

The school doesn't run open days or tours for individual families. Students offered a place are invited to an orientation day.

When do Baulkham Hills offers come out?

Year 7 placement outcomes are released by the Department in Term 3 of Year 6.

Other NSW selective schools

Families considering Baulkham Hills often also list:

• James Ruse Agricultural High School (Carlingford)
• Girraween High School (Girraween)
• Normanhurst Boys High School and Hornsby Girls High School (Upper North Shore)
• Penrith Selective High School (Penrith)

See all schools and places in our guide to every NSW selective high school.

Applying in November? Try free NSW Selective sample questions and see where your child stands.

Practice Tests & Exams is an independent provider and is not affiliated with Baulkham Hills High School or the NSW Department of Education. Information is from the school, the Department and published sources as of October 2026. Always check the school and Department websites for current details.